Rosés Clouds: Craft Beer in... Wangfujing?
By Noelle Mateer
How do you know when a trend has made it? Like, really, really made it? We often say that a place has made it when it moves to Sanlitun (see this example for reference). But upon further consideration, we amend our previous statements. You know how a trend is huge? It’s in Wangfujing.
Ah, Wangfujing – that gargantuan alleyway of malls and office towers, a paean to capitalism just east of Tiananmen Square. We long-term expats don’t go there too often – we prefer to leave it to the tourists. If you haven’t been in a while, we can confirm: Yeah, it’s pretty much the same today as it was when you visited in 2013. There is, however, a notable addition: Rosés Clouds.
Yes, that’s rosés like the wine, not roses like the flower. Rosés Clouds, sadly, is not populated by clouds of rosé. Rather, it’s filled with pleasing minimalist furniture, 10-plus taps of craft beer and well-heeled patrons from across the city. We suppose this is better anyway.
Rosés Clouds, with its taps-upon-taps of beer, announces the (capital-a) Arrival of craft beer in grandiose fashion. Beijing-made, microbrewed suds are now available in between APM Mall and next to several competing branches of Starbucks, Costa Coffee and Dunkin’ Donuts. And yet, the feel here isn’t corporate. In fact, our favorite thing about Rosés Clouds is the atmosphere – beautiful black-and-white clouds wallpapering the interior, pleasant terraces on the exterior. A long bar inside serves coffee and cold-pressed juices (also a trend that’s made it big).
But Rosés Clouds appears to be most popular as a lunch spot. The menu is extensive, featuring cold cuts, salads, burgers, steaks and the obligatory German-sausage plate. We find the pastas most gratifying – in particular a creamy alfredo fettuccine with salmon and dill. A sweet potato and beef salad is also a hit, especially suitable for those looking for light bites. But with coffee, meals and beers, Roses Clouds works anytime of day. And it’s definitely cooler than a Wangfujing mall.
11-15 PW3 Building, Beijing Oriental Plaza, 1 Dong Chang’an Jie, Dongcheng 东城区东长安街1号北京东方广场东方新天地商场平台层PW3号店铺11-15 (5607 5290)
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